Retirement & Taxes
Long-term financial planning, retirement accounts, government benefits, tax law, and IRS rules. Covers the intersection of policy and personal finance that affects how people save, invest, and plan ahead.
Latest in Retirement & Taxes
About 82% of seniors who could lose part of their Social Security to defaulted student loans qualify for a hardship exemption, but fewer than 1 in 10 apply
Roughly four out of five older Americans whose Social Security checks are reduced to repay defaulted student loans meet the criteria for a hardship exemption,...
Money you put into a Roth IRA can be withdrawn anytime, tax- and penalty-free
Anyone who has contributed to a Roth IRA holds a financial advantage that many account holders still do not fully grasp: the money they put...
A widow can claim a survivor benefit first, then switch to her own larger check at 70
Widows who qualify for both a Social Security survivor benefit and their own retirement benefit face a choice that can shift their total lifetime income...
An unpaid 401(k) loan turns into a taxable withdrawal, plus a 10% penalty if you’re under 59½
Workers who borrow from their 401(k) plans and fail to repay on schedule face an immediate tax hit: the entire unpaid balance is reclassified as...
Checking your Social Security earnings record for errors can raise your check for life
Every worker who pays into Social Security is building a benefit that hinges on one thing: the accuracy of the earnings record the agency keeps...
Drugmakers agreed to negotiate Medicare prices on 15 more medicines, including the first ever under Part B
Medicare’s drug price negotiation program has expanded again, with federal officials announcing agreements on 15 additional medicines and, for the first time, a treatment covered...
The IRS funds free tax help for filers over 60 through VITA and TCE
Millions of Americans over 60 face a quiet problem every spring: tax rules that grow more complex each year, paired with preparation costs that can...
Medicare Advantage members get a January window to switch plans or return to original Medicare
Millions of people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans have a narrow three-month period, running January 1 through March 31, to switch to a different Medicare...
The first 10 drugs with Medicare-negotiated prices took effect this year, and the 9 million seniors who take them could see out-of-pocket costs fall by more than half
Nine million people enrolled in Medicare entered 2026 paying less for some of the most widely prescribed drugs in the United States. Negotiated Maximum Fair...
One in five workers who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit never claim it, leaving up to about $8,000 unclaimed
About one in five workers eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit never file for it, forfeiting a benefit that can reach $8,046 for families...
Skipping your employer’s 401(k) match leaves free money on the table, often thousands of dollars a year
Workers who skip their employer’s 401(k) match forfeit one of the most direct paths to building retirement savings, often leaving thousands of dollars unclaimed each...
E-filing with direct deposit gets most tax refunds out within 21 days, versus weeks for a paper check
Taxpayers who file electronically and choose direct deposit can expect their refunds within 21 days in more than nine out of ten cases, according to...
Skip a required IRA withdrawal after age 73 and the IRS can take 25% of what you missed
Retirees who turn 73 and forget to pull money from a traditional IRA or 401(k) face a federal excise tax that claims one quarter of...
After 70½ you can send over $100,000 a year from an IRA straight to charity, tax-free
IRA holders who have reached age 70½ can direct up to $100,000 per taxable year straight from their retirement accounts to charity and exclude the...
Anyone 50 or older can add an extra $1,000 to an IRA each year
Workers aged 50 and older can stash an extra $1,000 per year in a traditional or Roth IRA on top of the standard contribution cap,...
The beneficiary form on your 401(k) overrides your will
A single form buried in an employer’s HR portal can override years of estate planning. When a 401(k) account holder dies, the retirement plan’s beneficiary...
Medicare’s Part B premium rose to $202.90 a month this year, with a $283 deductible
Millions of Medicare enrollees are paying more for outpatient medical coverage in 2026 after the standard Part B premium climbed to $202.90 a month, up...
Converting part of a traditional IRA to a Roth in a low-income year can cut the lifetime tax on your savings
Retirees and pre-retirees who experience a temporary drop in earnings, whether from a job change, a gap year, or an early retirement transition, face a...
Waiting to claim Social Security past full retirement age raises your check about 8% for every year, up to 70
Retirees who delay claiming Social Security beyond their full retirement age stand to collect roughly 8 percent more per year in monthly benefits, with gains...
Medicare’s annual wellness visit and most preventive screenings cost you nothing — as long as it’s billed as preventive
Medicare beneficiaries can walk into a doctor’s office for their annual wellness visit and most preventive screenings without paying a dime out of pocket, but...